Bilingualism is not a categorical variable: Interaction between language proficiency and usage

G Luk, E Bialystok�- Journal of cognitive Psychology, 2013 - Taylor & Francis
Journal of cognitive Psychology, 2013Taylor & Francis
Bilingual experience is dynamic and poses a challenge for researchers to develop
instruments that capture its relevant dimensions. The present study examined responses
from a questionnaire administered to 110 heterogeneous bilingual young adults. These
questions concern participants' language use, acquisition history, and self-reported
proficiency. The questionnaire responses and performances on standardised English
proficiency measures were analysed using factor analysis. In order to retain a realistic�…
Bilingual experience is dynamic and poses a challenge for researchers to develop instruments that capture its relevant dimensions. The present study examined responses from a questionnaire administered to 110 heterogeneous bilingual young adults. These questions concern participants' language use, acquisition history, and self-reported proficiency. The questionnaire responses and performances on standardised English proficiency measures were analysed using factor analysis. In order to retain a realistic representation of bilingual experience, the factors were allowed to correlate with each other in the analysis. Two correlating factors were extracted, representing daily bilingual usage and English proficiency. These two factors were also related to self-rated proficiency in English and non-English language. Results were interpreted as supporting the notion that bilingual experience is composed of multiple related dimensions that will need to be considered in assessments of the consequences of bilingualism.
Taylor & Francis Online